Ms. Lorcas will be joined by Lori Piitz, piano; Ed Gant, cello; and Pedro Aponte, cuatro, in performing Sonata No. 5 “Spring” for piano and violin by Ludwig von Beethoven, Havanaise by Camille Saint-Saens, three short pieces by Fritz Kreisler and two pieces from Lorcas’ native country, Venezuela.

Maria Lorcas instructs student

Maria Lorcas is in her fourth year as violin instructor in EMU’s Preparatory Music Program. She began her undergraduate studies in Venezuela, later receiving her bachelors and masters degrees in violin performance from Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon universities, respectively.

Ms. Lorcas has performed extensively in both Venezuela and the United States. She has been concertmaster of Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Symphony, Venezuela, first violinist in the Simon Bolivar Symphony, Venezuela, and with the Wheeling, Westmoreland and Altoona (PA) Symphonies. More recently she has performed with the Shenandoah Bach Festival and in orchestras in Charlottesville and Lexington.

Lorcas is a trained Suzuki violin teacher and has been teaching privately and coaching orchestra strings since 1993.

Admission to the recital is free. Donations are welcome for the Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music program.

The EMU orchestra’s fall concert will include several note-worthy special features.

The program, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, in Lehman Auditorium, will spotlight Lori Piitz, interim piano professor, and Daniel Stutzman, a recent EMU music graduate, as duo piano soloists in Saint-Saens’ "Carnival of the Animals."

Dr. Joan Griffing, chair of EMU’s , will conduct the 50-member ensemble comprised of students and community persons.

Short poems introducing each animal will be read throughout the performance by Patrick Reynolds, interim assistant professor of theater.

The concert will also include the popular "Fireworks Music" by George Frederic Handel and the much-loved "Unfinished Symphony" by Franz Schubert.

Admission is free; donations are welcomed for EMU music department student scholarship fund.